Courage Under Fire

The stunning story of an act of personal heroism during theGulf War, and the officer sent to uncover its secrets. An investigation intothe downing of a helicopter in the Gulf War could result in the first Medal ofHonor given to a woman for combat dutyobut the search for the truth aboutthe incident propels Patrick Sheane Duncan's engrossing novel on a vastlymore complex course. The Gulf War was the first American war with women in combatcommand positions, and Captain Karen Emma Walden was one of the best.But when her Medevac, a Huey, was shot down over enemy territory, CaptainWalden became a casualty, along with one of her men. Now the Army wants to give Captain Walden a medalothe kindfastened on so many men in wars past, but never before on a woman. AndLieutenant Colonel Nat Serling's investigation into Walden's career couldhelp revive his own. He'd been a rising star in the Persian Gulf, but hiscommand of a raid that accidentally fired on its on its own men has destroyedconfidence in him. Now he has the chance to show what kind of job he can dowith a delicate mission. Soon Serling discovers that this investigation is far from routine: hefinds soldiers wounded more than just physically, stories that don't jibe,mysterious lapses of memory. He must navigate the codes of silence, honor,and loyalty to uncover the truth about the Captain's deathoa truth thatcould destroy Walden's reputation but save Serling's career. Courage Under Fire is a remarkable tale of wartimebravery, of the ultimate sacrifice of a few, and of the ghosts left to hauntsome of those who returned home. Rarely has the psychological damage ofwar been captured as dramatically and poignantly as in this powerful debutnovel.